Basketball goal



April 12, 1960 BEMls 2,932,511

BASKETBALL GOAL Filed Nov. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Thomas E Hem/s April 12, 1960 T. F. BEMIS 2,932,511

BASKETBALL GOAL Filed Nov. 26. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6

man yaw 5m United States Patent 2,932,511 BASKETBALL GOAL Thomas F. Bemis, Plainville, Kans. Application November 26, 1957, Serial No. 699,072

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-15) This invention comprises a novel and useful basketball goal and more particularly relates to an improved goal post and support means for mounting a basketball backboard and hoop thereon.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a basketball goal which shall include a goal post having exceptionally great strength against flexing or bending whereby the same is particularly adapted for outdoor use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a basketball goal wherein the backboard and basket or hoop may be supported from the goal post in an exceptionally rigid and sturdy manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a basketball goal wherein the backboard may be supported from the goal post in a rigid and sturdy manner by a pair of V-shaped brackets especially adapted for an improved connection with the specific goal post and including lightweight brace members contributing to the security of the attachment of the braces to the goal post and the rigidity of the same.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figured is a side elevational view showing a basketball goal in accordance with this invention, the same being shown with a goal post mounted in the ground for outdoor use;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view upon an enlarged scale taken from the right side of Figure 1 and showing the upper portion of the goal post, the backboard and the bracket support means for the latter;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and upon an enlarged scale and showing in particular the preferred manner in which the support means is secured to the goal post and to the backboard;

Figure 4 is a group perspective view of a pair of braces forming an important feature of this invention;

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section, taken upon an enlarged scale and substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective and upon an enlarged scale of a modified form of the invention showing the manner in which the rear of the backboard is secured to and mounted upon the support arms of the goal post in accordance with this invention and an alternative manner of securing the support arms to the goal post by welding.

The improved basketball goal in accordance with the present invention consists of a conventional basketball backboard 10 to which is secured the hoop or basket 12 in a conventional manner, the basketball backboard being supported by a pair of support brackets each designated by the numeral 14, and which in turn are mounted upon a basketball post 16, the lower end of the latter being shown set in concrete as at 18 whereby the basketball goal is mounted for outdoor use.

The basketball goal post 16 in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of tubular standards of difierent diameter, the smaller being designated by the numeral 20, while the larger is designated by the numeral 22. These two standards are placed in .side-by-side engagement and contact with each other and are rigidly united together as by suitable welds as at 24, see Figures 1 and 7. It will thus be apparent that the provision of the welds disposed in longitudinally spaced relation at the two sides of the standards 20 and 22 provides an extremely rigid and non-bending goal post.

Each of the support brackets 14 by which the backboard 10 is mounted upon the goal post 16 is of generally V-shaped configuration, the same including a central semi-circular portion 26 from which extend a pair of outwardly divergent arms 28 as will be apparent from Figure 5, and as also shown in Figures 2 and 3, the relative inclination of the two arms 28 is such that the smaller diameter standard 20 may be received inside and against the curved portion 26, with the two arms 28 of each bracket lying tangent to and embracing the pair of standards 20 and 22 therebetween. At their outer ends, the arms of the two are secured to the backboard 10 upon the rear side of the same, being received within V-shaped plate metal hangers 30 and being secured to the latter as by fastening bolts 32. As will be observed, the two support brackets 14 are disposed in vertically spaced relation, these upper and lower brackets being inclined respectively downwardly and upwardly from their engagement with the goal post. Conveniently, the curved midportion of each bracket may be alternatively welded to the pair of standards 20 and 22 as indicated at 34 in Figure 7.

Side and end brace members are provided cooperating with the arms 28 of each bracket and with the tubular standards 20 and 22 to strengthen, stifien and rigidify the connection between these elements and the supporting brackets.

The bracing means provided consists of a pair of side braces each designated by the numeral 40 together with an end brace indicated at 42. The three brace elements each comprise a' sheet of material folded upon itself to provide parallel panels or plates together with a semicylindrical portion at one edge thereof.

The two side braces 40 thus include the parallel upper and lower plates or panels 44 and 46 which are integrally connected together by the semi-cylindrical end portion 48. The upper and lower panels or plates are coextensive, being provided with aligned apertures 50 and 52 together with semi-circular recesses 54 and 56 and arcuate recesses 58 and 60. In addition, as will be best apparent from Figure 5, the semi-cylindrical portions 48 are provided with outwardly projecting protuberances 62 which are apertured for a purpose to be subsequently apparent.

The end brace 42 likewise comprises upper and lower plates or panels 64 and 66 which are joined by the semicylindrical portion 68. A pair of apertures 70 is provided in each of the panels 64 and 66 in vertical alignment with each other.

Each of the side panels 40 is positioned to embrace an arm 28 of a support brace 14, with the recesses 54, 56 being in seated engagement with the circumference of the larger standard 22, while the arcuate recesses 58 and 60 are in engagement with a portion of the circumference of the smaller standard 20. This arrangement is best shown in Figure 3. In addition, the end. brace 42 has each of th'e sid'e b'races and theendbrace, the braces are clam ed and locked: together;

There} is" furtherprovided a through bolt or tie bolt 80 which extends through the above-mentioned aperture protuberances 62 of the side braces, through a drilled runner orb'ore provided between the adjacent standards and 22,-and through suitable aligned bores in the arms 23'; to thereby provide ameans clamping the arms of the brackets tightly upon the post 16;

It must be observedthat the sheet metal brace member's provide a" very' secure engagement and attachment of the supporting brackets to the goal post and also serve to stiffen and rigidify the V-shaped support brackets.

Thecon'struction isof lightweight, of inexpensive mate rials, and yet provides a sturdy and rigid support for a basketball. backboard, and is thereby specifically adapted for outdoor use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative: only of. the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes/will readily occur tothoseskilled in the-art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be-resorted to, falling within the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A basketball goal comprising a backboard with a hoop mounted thereon, a post including a pair of tubular standards of different diameters disposed in juxtaposed contacting. relation and rigidly secured together along their length to provide a composite torsion resistant post, and support means rigidly mounting said backboard upon said past, said support means comprising vertically spaced upper and lower V=shaped brackets each having its apex embracing and directly engaging the circumference of the smaller of said standards and having its arms adjacent the apex clasping the larger standard therebetween, eachbracket having, its divergent arms secured at their ends to said backboard.

2; The combination of claim 1 including a tie rod extending, through both arms of each bracket'and clamping said arms against both of said standards.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper and lowerbrackets are secured to said post at points spaced respectively above and, below said backboard.

4. The combination of claim 1 includinga pair of side braces for each bracket, each brace having recessed edges seated upon said standards and each being secured to an arm of said bracket.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of side braces for each bracket, each brace having recessed edges seated upon said standards and each secured to an arm of said bracket, each brace comprising a pair of parallel plates joined at one edge by a cylindrical portion.

6. The combination. ofi claim 1 including a-pair of side braces for each bracket, each brace having recessed edges seated upon said standards andeach secured to an arm of said bracket, each brace comprising a pair of parallel plates joined at one edge by a cylindrical portion, and an end brace disposed between the arms of each bracket and lying between the parallel plates of said side braces.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said end brace includes a pair of parallel plates joined at one edge by a cylindrical portionand having recesses in another edge seating upon said post.

8. In a basketball goal support, the combination of a pair of tubular standards ofi ditfe'rent diameters disposed injuxtaposed contacting relation and rigidly secured together along their length; to form a composite torsion resistant post, a substantially V-shaped-bra'cket including a pair of divergent goal supporting arms and an integral apex portionconnecting. Said arms together, said ape-X portion: of" said bracket embracing, and directly engaging a circumferential portion of the smaller of said standards and portions ofsaid arms adjacent the apex portion clasping the larger standard therebetween, a pair of side braces disposed at opposite sides of said post and each including a pair of spaced parallel plates having recessed inner edges in engagement with said standards and a curved portion connecting outer edges of said plates together, said portions of said arms adjacentsaid apex portion being disposed in said curved portions of said side braces, a transverse tie rod extending through said curved portions'of said bracesandthrough said arms and through a bore formed in the juxtaposed contacting portions of said standards-for securing the braces and arms to the standards,- an endbrace" disposed betweensaid plates of said side braces and having a; recessed inner edge in engagement With-the'larger standard, and fastening elements securing said end brace in said side braces.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 

